PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lee Tassen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hicks has chosen Bang Your Head as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tassen
vs
Hicks

175 cm
25
150 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

174 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Tassen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tassen.
Hicks tries to clinch but Tassen moves out of range.
Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.
Tassen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tassen tries to bum rush Hicks with a series of wild strikes but Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hicks lands with a nice body punch.
Tassen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hicks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tassen thinking.
Tassen fails with the takedown
and Hicks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks slips a jab from Tassen.
Hicks slips under a jab.
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hicks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hicks throws a sloppy body shot
and Tassen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hicks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hicks misses with a straight right.
Tassen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hicks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hicks dodges the punch combination from Tassen.
Tassen scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Tassen misses
and Tassen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A shot to the body from Tassen misses
and Hicks makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tassen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hicks avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Tassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tassen misses with a leg kick
and Hicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hicks looks to land a right hand but Tassen moved out of range.
Tassen fails with the takedown
and Hicks counters with a straight right hand.
A slow jab from Tassen misses its intended target.
Hicks tests Tassen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Hicks has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks tries to work over Tassen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Hicks on the inside.
Hicks lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tassen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hicks pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tassen looks for the body kick but Hicks saw that one coming.
Tassen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hicks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hicks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tassen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hicks counters with a three punch combo that has Tassen backing up. Tassen nods at Hicks to acknowledge the strikes.
A nice combination there by Hicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tassen loads up on a big right hand but Hicks slips the punch.
Hicks moves in looking to clinch but Tassen pushes him off.
Tassen misses with a looping left.
Tassen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hicks scores with a sloppy right hand. Tassen should have avoided that one.
Hicks just misses with a punch to the body.
Tassen lands with an overhand left.
Tassen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tassen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tassen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hicks dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tassen throws a combination that misses
and Hicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tassen throws a big shot that misses.
Tassen throws the left hand but Hicks avoids the punch easily.
Hicks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hicks with a nice cross.
Tassen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tassen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hicks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tassen manages to avoid it.

Tassen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hicks sprawls well initially but Tassen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hicks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
Tassen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tassen trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hicks working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tassen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tassen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hicks is looking to stand up but Tassen isn't so interested in that idea.
Tassen trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tassen scores with a hook to the body. Hicks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tassen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tassen misses with a double jab
and Hicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tassen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hicks misses with a hook to the body

and Tassen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Tassen from controlling successfully.

Hicks is looking for a triangle but Tassen pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hicks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tassen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tassen looks to land a strike but Hicks avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Hicks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hicks is breathing heavily.
Tassen wants to pass the guard but Hicks is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lee Tassen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tassen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tassen misses with a straight right.
Hicks avoids the body shot from Tassen.
Hicks misses with a looping left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tassen is defended easily by Hicks.
Tassen blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks cracks Tassen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks feints and then cracks Tassen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tassen down.
Tassen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hicks.
Hicks lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bill Hicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tassen looks to throw the jab but Hicks is out of range.
Tassen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hicks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tassen.

Tassen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hicks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hicks is looking for a sweep.
Hicks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tassen's best efforts.
Tassen trying to control from half guard but Hicks is working away.
Tassen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hicks's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tassen tries to control but Hicks wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hicks works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tassen preventing the sweep.
Tassen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hicks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tassen throws a big right hand that misses.

Hicks pushes Tassen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Tassen misses with a takedown
and Hicks counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Tassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tassen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hicks.
Tassen tries to move into range but Hicks moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hicks cracks Tassen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tassen tries for a takedown but Hicks circles away easily
enabling Hicks to counter with a crisp jab.
Hicks throws a hook but Tassen blocks it.
Lee Tassen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tassen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hicks counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hicks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Hicks!